Equine Handling Health & Safety

NOW…! Equine Perceptions Equine Responses Possible Best Practise: Approach

Capture First Method Restraint Moving

Do’s & Don’t’s! Advisable Health & Safety Precautions Safety Summary

Blind spot, approx 1.5m in front Can not focus, therefore adjusts

head position (if approach quickly just sees blurr)

Bifocal vision, for head down horizon viewing

Better night vision than humans Sees in blue and green, but most

images thought to appear greyish colour

http://www.horses-and-horse-information.com/articles/horse-eyes.shtml

The binocular vision area is the only area that herbivorous prey animals such as horses, cattle and sheep can see objects focused, therefore if

something is detected in the monocular vision the animal will turn its head to focus upon the object (decide if it’s a threat etc!)_

Equine Perceptions-Vision

Equine Perceptions-auditory

•Structurally very similar to most mammals

•With long cup like Pinnae to funnel sound and rotate 180° due to 10 muscles.

•The horses ears can work independently and their hearing is binaural (hear several sounds concurrently)

•Horses exhibit “Pryers Reflex” by pointing their ears in the direction of the sound detected

•Range of audible frequency is much greater than humans both at high and low pitch

Equine Perceptions-Auditory

Equine Perceptions-auditory

•Does not necessarily appear to be overtly used by horse, but is prominent sense well exceeding that of humans

•Like with humans smell is thought to be easily associated and possibly allow for the triggering of memories

•The Flehmen response is often seen upon detection of a distinct chemical stimuli often pheromones, but not exclusively, it is thought to occur to draw back the scent into the nasal cavity.

Equine Perceptions-Olfactory

Equine Perceptions-auditory

•A social sense used for greeting and bonding both with same and other species

•Vibrissae are used to detect elements in the environment not visible

•And the sensitive muzzle is described to act in a similar manner to an opposable thumb!

•Receiving grooming is both beneficial and most likely highly pleasurable.

•Points of differing sensitivity.

Equine Perceptions: Tactile

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Equine Perceptions-auditory

•As a prey animal the major behavioural response to any potential threat is to flee

•This can vary from a shy to full flight

Equine Responses-Flight

The sympathetic nervous system (part of the involuntary/autonomic nervous system) is responsible for the flight or fight responses.

In human personality types those of higher neuroticism find themselves easily upset or nervous from minor stressors, they have low activation thresholds (i.e can’t tolerate much arousal) and are unable to prevent or control emotional reactions. On the other hand very stable (low neuroticism) people have much more emotional control, calm and controlled under pressure.

The same appears in horses as an element of ‘nature’.

Equine Perceptions-auditory

Equine Responses-Fight

Fighting uses energy.

All animals typically reserve energy where possible.

Fight responses are most likely exhibited when flight is not an option.

An alternative response to flight or fight is a third response, “freeze”, this is known as tonic immobilisation. It is not typically used in horses but may occur when a horse is trying to assess a situation.

Equine Perceptions-auditory

Flight Zones http://www.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=http://www.extension.org/mediawiki/files/b/b9/

Horseflightzone.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.extension.org/pages/15669/understanding-the-flight-zone-of-horses&usg=__HJ9LvFBZrAxErpa4XiBkeX4gRrA=&h=200&w=282&sz=11&hl=en&start=1&sig2=JiWqQuCWI0D55_La3mK1yA&zoom=1&tbnid=Z15wt_P7M-HW8M:&tbnh=81&tbnw=114&ei=eS4fT7mtNsGKhQf9zqH0DQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dflight%2Bzone%252Bhorses%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1

All prey animals have a flight zone. This is a personal space that when entered into by a “predator” will force a flee response.

This is an innate response, but the flight zone is easily reduced and typically overridden by training, socialisation and habituation from a very young age.

Moving in and out of a flight zone will cause and stop movement.

A central axis is a point of balance, moving either side of this within the flight zone will cause a horse to move forward or back away from the handler.

Equine Perceptions-auditoryAdvised Best Practise: Approach

• Approach a horse from the side…why?

• Speak to the horse whilst approaching…why?

•Consider your own body language.

•Watch the horse’s body language…for?

•Assess the horse…by?

•Remain vigilant…for?

Equine Perceptions-auditoryMethods: Capture

• With tamed horse this is most likely through use of a head-collar or bridle

• With non-tamed horse capture

should be done carefully using

knowledge of flight zone.

Having a veterinarian dart an un-tame

may be more ethical than using any other capture technique.

•Other methods involve a horse

‘joining up’ and submitting to the handler

Equine Perceptions-auditoryAdvised Best Practise: Restraint

Definition: “To limit, restrict or keep under control”

•First Method of restraint is with a head-collar. Standard head collar. Adjustable at nose band, (throat) and crown.

•Method:Head collars buckle/clip on the horses left, so Head collars buckle/clip on the horses left, so stand to this sidestand to this sidePlace lead rope slowly over horses neck (own Place lead rope slowly over horses neck (own

arm or shoulder)arm or shoulder)Place nose band over nosePlace nose band over noseMove long strap up cheek, over Move long strap up cheek, over crown and behind ears to buckle crown and behind ears to buckle on the lefton the left

Tying a horse- quick release knot method 1Tying a horse- quick release knot method 1

Tying a horse- quick release knot method 1Tying a horse- quick release knot method 2

Ideally tie the horse at eye/wither height

A horse should never be tied directly to a firm stationary item.

Equine Perceptions-auditoryAdvised Best Practise: Restraint

•Second Method of restraint would

be a bridle

Equine Perceptions-auditoryAdvised Best Practise: Restraint

•Advanced restraint methods and equipment

•Twitches- Skin

Ear

Traditional

“Humane” Twitch

•Prevention Restraint

•Stock

Equine Perceptions-auditoryAdvised Best Practise: Moving

•On horses left…why?

•Stay back at the shoulder…why?

•Turn the horse away…why?

•Always watch the horse and environment

Equine Perceptions-auditoryDo’s & Don’ts

DO

•Continually observe horse and environment

•Have knowledge of behavioural responses

•Allow the horse to be aware of your movements

•Plan handling and related procedures

•Introduce the horse to new equipment gradually

•Expect the unexpected

•Use common sense!

Equine Perceptions-auditoryDo’s & Don’ts

DON’T

•Put yourself in a vulnerable place

•Rush handling or procedures

•Expect specific behavioural responses

•Be too relaxed

•Ever think that a horse a ‘bombproof’!

Equine Perceptions-auditoryAdvisable Health & Safety Precautions

•Wear Safety Clothing: Helmet

Steel toe capped boots

Wear high visability clothing when on roads

Gloves

•Have Tetanus Vaccination

•Wash hands before and after handling

•Be familiar with safe manual handling and lifting methods

Equine Perceptions-auditorySafety Summary

•Prepare

•Plan

•Prevent

•Assess

•Monitor

•Respond